Part IX

As indicated we were now beginning to penetrate well into German airspace. At about this time was when Hermann Goering issued his memorable order to German farmers to use "pitchforks" on all "downed" U.S. Airmen. His statement carried particular significance to the 34th pilots because here-to-fore we did not normally carry side arms on our missions. We strongly felt if forced to bail out or crash land over enemy-held territory cool-headedness and better application of "escape and evasion" tactics would be exercised without the aid of a gun. (Perhaps this same philosophy has a place in today's "Saturday-nite-special" squabble). Although the ultimate decision was always left to the individual pilot I don't remember anyone holstering his weapon on missions until the notorious pitchfork announcement.

Photographic results were now pouring in from all corners. The Third Army in addition to its daily priority front line mapping requests was asking for scale photos of forts, obstacles, roads and individual artillery concentrations; the Ninth Air Force with its tactical bombing was anxious to have bomb damage assessment photos on all targets; XIXth TAC was sending its fighter bombers ahead of the army to strafe road columns and needed the immediate results in order to take advantage of the damage caused; even the Ninth Air Force Engineers were requesting photo coverage of any and all airfields under construction; and as if this was not enough the 34th was beginning to receive similar priority requests from both the Seventh and French First Armies to the south of us. Everything, of course, was marked "Urgent", "Top Urgent", and "Extra Top Urgent". Our intelligence target map boards were beginning to look like "red blurs".

You might say the Thirty Fourth was pretty well occupied. I'll tell you one thing, the Thirty Fourth was now a truly combat-efficient organization. Teamwork was the answer; we had worked hard to achieve it and we had it. The squadron was functioning smoothly, automatically and effectively.

Although spare time was at a premium, personnel did spend extra moments winterizing their individual living quarters. A German wood-working and plywood factory close by served the squadron well. Insulated siding, roofing paper, cabinets, tables and chairs, even sinks and stoves were being liberated at will. Everyone seemed to be having a heyday, and the results were beginning to approach the fantastic...but...we knew it was too good to last...

Sure enough, the Thirty Fourth was about to move again. At the moment it was unexpected; it was even behind us; and this time it had a round of "musical chairs" thrown in for good measure. Yes, 6 October 1944, the 34th hit the road again and headed south for Dijon, France. Although behind us, as it was, we were at least going to get a look at a bit of the French wine country.

We were leaving the 10th Group (we would rejoin it again at Furth/Nurembourg at the end) to formulate the new Provisional Reconnaissance Group supporting the Seventh US Army and French First Army. The Seventh had moved well past Dijon and was rapidly pulling astride Patton's forces on the left. The French First Army, along the edge of the Alps was paralleling General Patch's advance -- General Patton now had a true "right flank". This turned out to be most strategic. It was this positioning of troops that eventually provided Patton the flexibility to make his memorable speedy advance to relieve the embattered troops of the "Bulge" at Christmas time.

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